A Wolf's Claim

CHAPTER 33

*Stella*

I woke up to hearing yelling from outside the door. I lifted my head and focused on the voices, hearing Jace and Sienna yelling at each other. As I get out of bed and walk closer to the door, their voices start to disappear. I opened the door and peeked my head out, watching them walk down the hallway toward Sienna's room. Their voices were distraught, and Sienna sounded angry.

"Jace--" Sienna growled.

"I know, Sienna!" Jace roared, turning around and staring at me in shock.

I stared into his eyes, finding them darker than before. To my surprise, he turned and started walking in the opposite direction. Sienna then looked over at me and sighed, entering her room, slamming the door behind her. What the hell happened? What did I miss?

Adam walked past me, headed toward his and Sienna's bedroom. I stuck my hand out and grabbed his shoulder, lightly, as he turned around to face me with a look of remorse. I raised my eyebrows, watching his lips purse. I need to know what's going on. They can't keep it a secret.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice a small whisper.

"Jace will explain everything to you, I promise." Adam replied, walking away from me.

I was left with my mouth hanging open, confused and bothered. I didn't want to stay locked up in that room anymore, I had to find out what happened. I walked down the hallway, in the direction that Jace disappeared. There were several doors to either side, and I stopped in front of the only one that had a light from under the door. I could feel Jace's presence, somehow, I knew he was inside that room. I lifted my hand and knocked with the back of my knuckles, lightly.

"Come in." Jace grunted, and I slowly opened the door.

He was sitting behind a dark wooden desk, with his head buried in the palms of his hands. It was an office, with an entire wall dedicated to a bookshelf. There were papers scattered across his desk, even some on the floor. The minute I set foot in the room, he looked up and his demeanor changed. His stiff and rigid body seemed to relax, as a small sigh left his lips.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my voice a light whisper.

Jace inhaled deeply, chewing on the inside of his cheek. He bowed his head for a short moment, and when his eyes met mine again, they were that dark hazel color. I felt myself shiver, staring into his eyes right now is different from earlier. They're much more menacing and intimidating.

"Sienna saw a vision of your past... while held captive at Solomon's." Jace said with clenched teeth, his eyes were growing darker by the second.

"Oh..." I muttered, feeling my cheeks blush.

"Ziggy did something to you, something that werewolves rarely do. He... marked you for death. When a werewolf bites someone on the wrist or forearm, twice, in a criss-cross pattern. It's a mark on the enemy..." Jace growled, as I internally gasped.

I glanced down, pulling up my sleeve on my left arm, to find the mark Jace had just described. My stomach started to tangle inside, as my breathing became labored. I stared up at Jace, who was watching me with a tightly clenched jaw. I remember Ziggy grabbing my arm, but I don't remember him biting me.

"What exactly does this mean?" I asked, tracing the scar with my fingers.

"It means nothing now, because he's dead." Jace grunted, as my eyes flew back to his.

"You... you killed him?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"Yes." Jace nodded, his face stoic and stone-cold.

"Why?" I asked, before I could stop myself.

"Because he marked you for death. Someone could have killed you," Jace explained with a pained expression, "I had to."

"I'm sorry..." I murmured, biting my lip.

"I wanted to, after what they did to you." Jace quickly responded, standing up and walking toward me with his normal hazel eyes.

"I did too," I softly admitted, "but I didn't want you to be the one in the position."

"I'd rather it was me than you." Jace smirked, standing directly in front of me with a crooked grin that made my knees weak.

I sighed, wanting to throw myself into his chest, but refraining. We haven't been too intimate yet, though I'd like to, part of me is nervous. I'm human, I'm different from all the other women in this house. What if... what if he doesn't like me after we have s*x? What if I'm not good enough? Then all of this would have been for nothing!

"Why do you hold back with me, Stella?" Jace asked, his voice was soft and gentle, encouraging me to be honest.

"I... I'm afraid of getting hurt." I admitted, dropping my gaze to the floor.

"I would never hurt you," Jace said, using his finger to lift my chin back up to his gaze, "You are my fated mate, Stella. I know you don't quite understand what that means yet, but I'm willing to prove it to you. You mean more to me than anything else in this world. I could feel our bond the moment I caught your scent, roses and jasmine. We are meant for each other."

With each word that left his mouth, I found myself getting closer to him, until I was standing directly in front of him. He looked down at me, because he's a good foot taller, and smiled contently. He snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me flush against his body, as I gasped in shock, but soon started giggling. He leaned down, while I extended my neck upwards, and our lips met once again.

Only this time, a strong current ran through me at the touch of his skin, and I shivered a little. Wrapping my arms around the back of his neck, I pressed my mouth to his and soon parted my lips. It was a passionate and heated kiss, leaving me wanting more. We pulled away, both out of breath and intertwined in each other's arms. He placed one more delicate kiss on my lips and released me, walking back over to his desk.

"I have to stop now, otherwise I'll get carried away." Jace said, sitting down with a crooked smirk.

"I can understand why," I nodded, running my fingers along my lips that were still tingling. "That was incredible."

"We have a strong bond, it will only grow stronger." He took a deep breath and continued his paperwork.

I bit my bottom lip, fighting back the grin that wanted to devour my face. Leaving his office, I shut the door behind me, and turned around to find Sienna standing behind me. She had a worried look on her face, but before I could ask, she stepped into Jace's office and shut the door behind her.

"Jace, the pack can't take any more of this, they want to find somewhere else to stay." Sienna stressed, and I heard Jace sigh.

"I know." He grunted, "I'm trying to figure it out, Sienna, I am."

"Let us help you--" Sienna tried to reason with Jace, but he soon interrupted.

"I've got it, Sienna. You can leave, now." Jace stubbornly rejected her help, and I quickly shuffled down the hall.

Sienna was slowly behind me and I ducked into my room, only for her to knock on the door. I gulped, wondering if she knew I was listening. That will be an awkward conversation. I really hope that's not the case. I opened the door and let her in, shutting it behind her.

"I'm concerned about Jace, and the pack... I don't know what to do." Sienna sighs, shaking her head.

"I think I have an idea, but I'll need your help." I said, hoping this wouldn't be a giant mistake.